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NEEDS REVEALED Town's study contains many recommendations from area youth PAGE 8 Look inside today's special section for the latest automotive news 12 PAGES WHEELS.CA www.theIFP.ca Thursday, December 8, 2011 Halton Hills' award-winning newspaper serving Acton & Georgetown 64 Pages 50 Cents (+HST) Fall victim hopes her case results in changes to healthcare system By LISA TALLYN Staff Writer It's been a rough few months for Christine Ford. The Georgetown artist suffered a serious shoulder injury June 10 after falling from her bicycle on Wildwood Rd. and underwent surgery two weeks later. She spent several months off work-- two months of that bedridden-- and in rehab, but is now set to have a shoulder replacement in January because the surgery wasn't successful. Ford believes the delay in getting surgery impacted her outcome. She went to Georgetown Hospital ER immediately after the accident and was told she would be transferred to Brampton Hospital for surgery. But she said, despite being in excruciating pain, she was later told they had done all they could for her there and that they had made an appointment for her at the Brampton Hospital fracture clinic for a week later. After being unsuccessful in getting immediate surgery at Georgetown, Ford went to Oakville Hospital where she was told there was no one able to handle a break that bad and was directed to Brampton Civic Hospital where she was told nothing could be done before the fracture clinic appointment June 16. Ford was originally going to have to wait until June 27 for surgery, but fortunately her surgeon was able to get it moved up to June 23. Her shoulder was broken in seven pieces and the surgeon put several screws and a plate in it, her bicep muscle was also damaged. The surgery went well, but Ford said unfortunately by mid-October there were indications it was not successful. She said the "bone is dying." "When the bone is shattered like that it doesn't have access to blood," said Ford. She said at the time of the accident she was told the best chance to have a successful surgery was no later than 14 days after the accident. Her surgery was exactly two weeks after, she said, thanks to the fact that her surgeon was able to get it moved up, which she's grateful for. "It was a really bad fracture. I don't think I was given the best chance at all. To wait a week just to get into the system wasn't advantageous at all," she said. "The reason I couldn't get treatment at another hospital was the doctor in the ER insisted on speaking with a surgeon in Brampton Hospital who said he would take See PATIENT, pg. 9 Local artist Christine Ford believes she "fell throught the cracks' of the healthcare system after severely injuring her shoulder in a fall in June. She believes a two-week delay in getting surgery resulted in the operation (which, right, involved several plates and screws) ultimately proving unsuccessful. She will now have shoulder replacement surgery in January. Photo by Ted Brown REFINANCING? PURCHASING? 4 YR. FIXED CALL FOR DETAILS. 2.99% FSCO #10259 Division of 1490845 Ont. Ltd. Stop in for Unique Gift Ideas W W W. B E R G S M A S . C A Paint · Lighting · Wall Coverings Window Coverings · Home Decor BOB OB WOODS, Broker (905) 877-1490 360 Guelph St., Georgetown GEORGETOWN MARKETPLACE MALL 905-877-4193